Dallas Cowboys: Latest Combine News and Rumors

The NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and that means the start of the offseason is right around the corner as well, which means the beginning of the Dallas Cowboys' quest to get to a Super Bowl really starts to ramp up. 

The combine is an opportunity for teams to find out what kind of athletes these players are and also get in-depth look at their medicals. The most important aspect of the combine may be the player interviews, where teams can get answers on technique and character questions. 

The combine is also a time when a ton of rumors start floating around with regard to each team. Whether it be players the Cowboys are interested in signing during free agency or selecting in the draft, the rumors will be plentiful. 

Without further ado, let's look at some of the predraft rumblings with regard to the Dallas Cowboys. 

Cowboys Love Captains

Wade Payne/Associated Press

The Cowboys' propensity to select players who were captains of their college football teams is no secret; therefore, it should be no surprise that they are already being linked with players with the aforementioned background at their biggest position of need: defensive end. 

The Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota mentions some players the Cowboys may be interested in because of their experience as team captains on their respective college football teams: 

"

Garrett loves captains. Here are some: Dupree, Odighizuwa, Mauldin, Mario Edwards, Preston Smith, Nate Orchard, Markus Golden, Trey Flowers

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 14, 2015"

All the players mentioned above will likely be chosen in the first three rounds, and it would make sense that the Cowboys would have various levels of interest in each one. 

The players whom Cowboys fans should be really interested in are Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Preston Smith and Trey Flowers. Dupree is the one that brings the dynamic pass-rushing ability off the edge, while the other three are well-rounded and run-stopping dynamos. 

If Dallas drafted any of the four, they would instantly upgrade their defensive line in varying respects. Make sure to keep an eye on each as the predraft process plays out. 

ESPN's Mel Kiper Believes Carl Davis Could Be the Pick at No. 27

Justin Hayworth/Associated Press

Conventional wisdom is that the Cowboys will go with defense with their first selection in the 2015 NFL draft. The defense could definitely use more help than the offense, as they were in the middle of the pack in 2014.

One position that the Cowboys could significantly upgrade is at the 1-technique defensive tackle position. Nick Hayden is a nice player who gives full effort on every play, but Dallas could really use an influx of talent there. 

ESPN's Mel Kiper believes the Iowa defensive tackle could be an option for the Cowboys at pick No. 27, writing:

"

I'm not sure there was a player who did more to gain appeal as a potential first-round pick at the Senior Bowl. Davis brings a coveted ability to be disruptive as a pass-rusher from the inside, as he won't just push the pocket with strength, but also can win with quickness and get into the backfield. The Cowboys have done a great job in building their offensive line and have made it possible to be one of the few truly balanced offenses, but any setback on offense could expose a defense that was better on paper than it was in terms of personnel in 2014. They could add talent at all three levels, but Davis would make a lot of sense if the board breaks this way. I can also see Jordan Phillips as an option here.

"

While this option sounds good in theory, the Cowboys have shown that they don't value the 1-technique defensive tackle position enough to warrant an early-round selection. They passed on Sharrif Floyd precisely for that reason. 

Unless defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and the Cowboys front office have changed their beliefs on the value of each position on defense, the Cowboys will likely pass on Davis at No. 27. 

Ty Montgomery Fits Cowboys Profile

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

With Dwayne Harris testing free agency, the Cowboys may be in the market for a wide receiver who can double as a special teams ace. There may be not a better candidate for that distinction than Stanford's Ty Montgomery. 

While he appears to fit a potential need, he may fit with the Cowboys for another reason as well, according to The Dallas Morning News' Rainer Sabin:

"

Jason Garrett has never really defined what constitutes the right kind of guy. It’s a nebulous term the Cowboys coach has used repeatedly in the past to describe the type of player he covets. Ty Montgomery appears to fit the profile of a prospect Garrett wants.

"

It is unlikely that the Cowboys would look for a player like Montgomery early in the draft, as they have much more pressing needs. However, if he is still available in the third-, fourth- or fifth-round range, the Cowboys would be fools not to consider him. 

He is already a better receiver than Harris with comparable ability on special teams, which would be an upgrade with all things considered. 

RB in First Round for Dallas?

John Bazemore/Associated Press

With the uncertainty regarding DeMarco Murray's future with the Cowboys, one option that has been thrown around is the possibility that the Cowboys could go with a running back in the first round. 

The Dallas Morning News' Kevin Sherrington thinks that Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon should be an option for Dallas at the bottom of the first round:

"

If Murray's situation is decided before the draft, which I would expect it will, and he's not here, they'd probably go after one or the other. Picking 27th, there's probably not an obvious impact player on defense, at least not a pass-rushing DE or shut-down CB. A guy from that part of the draft certainly could develop into one, but it wouldn't be obvious. I think either Gordon or Gurley is going to be very good. You'd like to think with your first pick you're getting a sure thing. I think both of those RBs probably are.

"

The recent history of running backs that have been selected in the first round is not very good. If Gurley wasn't coming off a torn ACL, he would likely be an easy first-round pick. However, the fact that he did injure his knee certainly complicated matters. Melvin Gordon is a fantastic college running back, but he has some facets of his game that don't necessarily translate well to the NFL and specifically the Cowboys. 

Even with these two facts, you cannot discount the fact that the Cowboys could go running back in Round 1, especially if Gurley's medicals check out. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller Has Cowboys Taking Gerod Holliman

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Another option the Cowboys have in the first round is to add a ball-hawking safety at No. 27. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has the Cowboys doing just that in a recent mock draft, as he projects Louisville's Gerod Holliman to the Cowboys. 

Holliman is the epitome of a ball hawk, as he snagged 14 interceptions this year for the Cardinals. He has great instincts and the range to be a true single-high safety that the Cowboys have sorely missed since Darren Woodson retired. 

However, Holliman has one huge weakness: He is a terrible tackler. Not only does he showcase awful tackling technique, he often shies away from contact. 

This puts NFL teams in a bind. Where do you put a player who has special coverage ability but little willingness or ability to tackle?

For the Cowboys, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli doesn't appear to be the type that would be OK with his safety not being able to tackle. Therefore, it should be unlikely that the Cowboys would spend any selection on Holliman, despite his unique coverage ability.